Electron Affinity

Definition

Electron affinity refers to the amount of energy released when an electron is added to a neutral atom to form a negative ion.

Analogy

Imagine you're at a party and you really want more guests (electrons) because it makes the party (the atom) more exciting. The excitement you feel when another guest arrives is similar to the energy released by an atom when it gains an electron - this is electron affinity!

Related terms

Ionization Energy: The energy required to remove an electron from a gaseous atom or ion.

Ionic Bonding: A type of chemical bond where one atom transfers one or more electrons to another, resulting in attraction between the positively charged ion and negatively charged ion.

Periodic Trends: Patterns that occur within groups and periods on the periodic table including electron affinity, electronegativity, atomic radius, ionization energy, and metallic character.